Optical illusion device



y ,1938. s. SPRAGUE 2,117,635

OPTICAL ILLUSION DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1936 fit 6070K N 4 Java JP/e/mue 13 4 firm/may Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFEE 2,117,635 OPTICAL ILLUSION DEVICE Sidney Sprague, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application November 5, 1936, Serial No. 109,288

7 Claims.

Ihe present invention relates to optical illusion devices of the type used to create a multiplicity of images and particularly to the class adaptable for advertising and display devices, toys and for the stage.

The principal object of this invention is to provide devices of the character set forth of improved and novel construction; whereby a multi tude of reflections is created of a few articles at rest or in motion, and such reflections are made accessible to the View of observers.

Another object is to provide novel and improved devices of the class described, whereby there can be observed a multiplication of reflections of but a few articles at rest or in motion, which reflections are upright, inverted and lying sidewise, all appearing simultaneously.

A further object hereof is to provide novel and improved devices of the type mentioned, whereby only numerous reflections of the articles exhibited are viewable, but never the articles themselves, which are entirely out of view of the observer.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel and improved devices of the kind described, which are simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, easy to use, and readily adaptable for change of exhibits.

Other objects will become manifest as this description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a device embodying the teaching of this invention, to be used in store window displays to exhibit articles of merchandise for advertising purposes.

Fig. 2 shows in perspective an assembly of a mirror structure used in the practice of this invention.

In the drawing, the numeral I designates generally a multi-sided open top mirror-walled chamber, .built so that the rear half of its wall comprising the mirror panels II, is higher than the front half of its wall comprising the mirror panels 12. These panels may be plane, concave or convex. On the floor of this chamber III, is a platform I3, on which is placed the articles to be exhibited. This platform, if desired, may be a rotating turn table or a series of such. The exhibits may be of themselves inactive, or else may be of the type which independently move, as for instance, dancing dolls, motor-actuated toys, sprinkling fountains and the like. Then again, the teachings of this invention may be embodied in structures of such size as are suitable for productions on the stage of a theatre, where a group of actors take the place of inanimate objects which serve as the exhibits in the smaller models. "-5

Above thechamber I0, is a mirror I4, in position sloping downwardly toward the top edge of the rear wall of the said chamber. The underside of this mirror It, is its reflecting surface. Forward of both the chamber IE], and the mirror" I4, is an interiorly mirrored tubular structure indicated generally by the numeral I5, comprising the opposite pairs of mirror panels It and I1, and those numbered I8 and I9. Panels I5 and II, are in position sloping downwardly forwardly with respect to the chamber Ill, with the rear edge of panel I6, higher than the top: edge of the front wall of said chamber, and with the rear edge of panel II, at about the front edge, of the mirror I4. The latter may be termed an intermediary reflecting surface between the structures I0 and I5. A pair of spaced mirror panels 20 and 2I, with their reflecting surfaces facing one another, are positioned one, at and above each side of the lower wall of the chamber I fi, so that the panel I9, may receive the reflections appearing in panel 26], and so that panel I8 may receive the reflections appearing in panel 2 l, and so that the said panels 28 and El, may receive reflections appearing in the panels II, and the iio panel I4. An observer, in front of structure I5, gazes on the final panel I6, and incidently on the panels I8 and I9.

The mirror structure of Fig. 2, is suitably mounted in any desired casing which may take on any form and decoration according to the contemplated use of the contrivance. For convenience, a box casing indicated generally by the numeral 22, may be used. This comprises a top wing 23, wherein is mounted the mirror I4, which '40 wing is hinged at 24 to the box component 25, wherein resides the chamber iii and all its appurtenances. A front wing 26, hinged to the box component 25 at 27, has mounted therein the structure I5. The ease with which exhibits 011* the platform I3, may be had access to, is evident.

The construction of chamber I0, With a lower front wall as illustrated in Fig. 2, affords greater multiplicity of images. In modified embodiments, all the panels II and I2, need not be mirrors. It is desired that the term multi-sided chamber shall be deemed herein to mean any chamber having three or more sides.

In operation, reflections of articles on the turntable I3, appearing on the panels II and l2, are reflected in the intermediary mirror [4, and thence onto the final reflecting surface I6. The mirror l1, reflects into mirror I6, images appearing in the panels H and I2. Mirrors 2| and 20, reflect into the mirrors l8 and I9, respectively, images from the panels H and I2, and from mirror It. There also occur numerous cross reflections among all of the mirror components of the structure of Fig. 2, resulting in a multiplicity of images to be observed in the components of the structure 55, visible to an observer. The resultant images will be upright, inverted and lying sidewise. If the exhibits are of themselves in motion independent of the movement of the turntable I3, or so on a fixed platform, it is evident that the ultimate images observed at structure l5, will be likewise. It is to be noted that the exhibit proper, are out of view of the observer.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment shown herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive, and that the patent shall cover whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an optical illusion device, the combination of a multi-sided open top chamber adapted to house an exhibit; interior walls of said chamber being reflecting surfaces, an intermediary member positioned sloped above the chamber; the underside of said member being a reflecting surface, a final member positioned forward of and below the intermediary member; the upper side of said final member being a reflecting surface, a pair of members having opposed reflecting surfaces positioned in staggered relation, one extending upwardly from the final member, and the other behind the final member and extending between the intermediary member and the top edge of the wall of the chamber.

2. In an optical illusion device, the combination of a multi-sided open top chamber adapted to house an exhibit; interior walls of. said chamber being reflecting surfaces, a member positioned sloped above thechamber; a second member positioned immediately forward of the higher edge of the first member and sloping downwardly forwardly thereof; the undersides of both said members being reflecting surfaces, a final member positioned forward of the first member and below the second member; the upper side of said final 'member being the reflecting surface and a pair of members having opposed reflecting surfaces positioned in staggered relation, one extending upwardly from the final member, and the other behind the final member and extending between the intermediary member and the top edge of the wall of the chamber.

3. In an optical illusion device, the combination of a multi-sided open top chamber adapted to house an exhibit; interior walls of said chamber being reflecting surfaces, an intermediary member positioned sloped above the chamber; the underside of said member being a reflecting surface, a final member positioned forward of and below the intermediary member; the upper side of said final member being a reflecting surface; the wall of the chamber nearest the final member being lower than the remainder of said wall nearest the intermediary member, and a pair of members having opposed reflecting surfaces positioned in staggered relation, one extending upwardly from the final member, and the other behind the final member and extending between the intermediary member and the top edge of the wall of the chamber.

4. In an optical illusion device, the combina tion of a multi-sided open top chamber adapted to house an exhibit; interior walls of said chamber being reflecting surfaces, a member positioned sloped above the chamber; a second member positioned immediately forward of the higher edge of the first member and sloping downwardly forwardly thereof; the undersides of both said members being reflecting surfaces, at final member positioned forward of the first member and below the second member; the upper side of said final member being a reflecting surface; the wall of the chamber nearest the final member being lower than the remainder of said wall nearest the intermediary member, and a pair of members having opposed reflecting surfaces positioned in staggered relation, one extending upwardly from the final member, and the other behind the final member and extending between the intermediary member and the top edge of the wall of. the chamber.

5. In an optical illusion device, the combination of a multi-sided open top chamber adapted to house an exhibit; interior walls of said chamber being reflecting surfaces, an intermediary member positioned sloped above the chamber; the underside of said member being a reflecting surface, a multi-sided tubular structure positioned with an open end thereof forward of the chamber and sloped downwardly forward of the intermediary member; the interior walls of said structure being reflecting surfaces, and a pair of members having reflecting surfaces in opposition extending rearwardly of said tubular structure and upwardly over the chamber.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein the wall of the chamber nearest the tubular structure is lower than the remainder of said wall.

'7. In an optical illusion device, the combination of a multi-sided open top chamber adapted to house an exhibit; interior walls of said chamber being reflecting surfaces, a member positioned forward of and higher than the chamber sloped forwardly downwardly; the underside of said member being a reflecting surface, and a final member positioned forward of the chamber and below the last mentioned member; the upper side of said final member being a reflecting surface.

SIDNEY SPRAGUE. 

